The Special Olympics Healthy Athletes program addresses the issue that many people with intellectual disabilities have unique issues around health care and communicating their needs. The issue is twofold: first, many individuals with intellectual disabilities have trouble realizing or expressing their health concerns; second, many health professionals have not had the opportunity to receive specific training, or are not familiar enough with this population, to know the best questions to ask to draw out the issues.

International Special Olympics research has found that people with intellectual disabilities have a 40 per cent higher risk for health issues, and that only one in 50 primary care physicians have received clinical training that qualifies them to treat people with intellectual disabilities.

The professionals who lead Healthy Athletes screenings have received specific training to help them ask the right questions, and their interactions with Special Olympics athletes lead to referrals back into the health care system that ensure the individuals will get the treatment they need.